Apparatus for applying tear tab to a web



May 21, 1963 o. B. CARLSON APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TEAR TAB TO A WEB 7Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20 1959 lNVENTOR 040,: 3. C'A'Aasa/v MATTORNEY 0. B. CARLSON APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TEAR TAB T0 WEB 7Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 1963 Filed Feb. 20, 1959 May 21, 1963 o. B.CARLSON APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TEAR TAB TO A WEB 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledFeb. 20, 1959 am ww km wm K m W %m fig: mm.

INVENTOR OLOF 3.654,? sow BY Mam/.8

ATTO R N EY y 1963 o. B. CARLSON 3,090,285

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TEAR TAB TO A WEB Ei g: 290 5% l i i I I 536' 8 270 g 4 384 I I,

I f 350. i l i I g I in. 3% ,H I w W M y I V 368 356' 350 gigz 1| 1B380/ INVENTOR T1? 04 .F-CAELSO/V ATTORNEY y 1963 o. B. CARLSON 3,090,285

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TEAR TAB TO A WEB Filed Feb. 20, 1959 4 INVENTOR01.0; 3- C4p4s0/v Z46 BY 25? wag.

ATTORN EY May 21, 1963 o. B. CARLSON 3,096,285

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TEAR TAB TO A WEB Filed Feb 20, 1959 7Sheets-Sheet 7 n lll llll/l' m Hm. k

{m laid]. VENTOR 010; 3-C'AE'LSO/V United States Patent 3,096,285APPARATUS FGR APPLYING TEAR TAB TO A WEB 010E B. Carlson, Berwick, Pa,assignor to Consolidated Cigar Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,570 1 Claim.(Cl. 93-1) The present invention relates generally to improvements inpackaging equipment, and it relates in particular to an improved machinefor applying a succession of tear tabs and slitting the edge of a web ofWrapping material.

Many types of machines and equipment have been proposed and employed forapplying these tear tabs to a wrapping web and for slitting an edge ofthe wrapping web to facilitate the tearing of the web attendant theremoval of the web from the package or article. One such machine isdescribed in US. Patent No. 2,757,584, issued August 7, 1954, to A.Clemente. These slitting and tear tab applying machines, while generallyoperative, possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. They aresubject to frequent malfunctioning and breakdowns and require frequentservicing. The various components of the machine which requireadjustment, repair and replacement are usually accessible only withgreat difiiculty, so that the servicing of such machines is expensiveand time consuming. Another drawback to the use of these machines istheir lack of flexibility and versatility, being applicable only tolimited materials and within a narrow range of dimensions.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide animproved accessory device for use with packaging equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for applying a succession of tear tabs at regularly spacedintervals along the edge of a packaging web.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtear tab applying mechanism which simultaneously slits the edges of thewrapping web along opposite sides of the tear tab to initiate and guidethe tearing of the web.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved teartab applying and slitting machine which is of simple andruggedconstruction, and is readily assembly and disassembled tofacilitate the easy servicing thereof. I i

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved tear tab applying and slitting machine which may be employedwith Webs of indefinite widths.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved teartab applying and slitting machine which is highly flexible and versatileand in which various operating components may be independently adjusted.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtear tab applying and slitting machine which is subject to a minimum ofmalfunctioning.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is aperspective view of a cigar wrapped in a web, tabbed and slit by themachine constructed accord ing to and embodying the present invention,the wrapper being illustrated in open condition;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the tab feeding andattaching arrangement and slitting mechanism;

IGURE 3 is :a chine;

FIGURES 4a and 4b are diagrammatic plan, partial views of the improvedmachine processing narrow and wide wrapping webs respectively;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the improved machine shown partiallybroken away for convenience of illustration;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the tear tab tapeadvancing mechanism shown partially broken away, the feed mechanismbeing illustrated in broken line in advance position;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view through line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken through line 8-8of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken through line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the slitter andpresser foot actuating mechanism;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken through line 11 11 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURES 12a, 12b and are fragmentary side elevational views of the tapefeeding rolls, heat securing elements and slitting knives illustratedtape advancing, tape securing and tape and web slitting positionsrespectively;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken through line 13- 13 of FIGURE 12a;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the heating padunit;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the heating pad andits actuating mechanism in retracted position and illustrated by brokenline in advanced raised position;

FIGURE '16 is a sectional view taken through line 16 16 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective vie-w of the heating pad actuating 'bellcrank;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective exploded view of a modified form of heatingpad actuating bell crank;

FIGURE 19 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the heating pad andits actuating mechanism illustrating the disassembly of part of themachine for servicing; and

FIGURE 20 is a side elevational view of the improved machine shownmounted for vertical operation.

Important features of the present improved machine are its greatflexibility, simplicity, ruggedness and ease of servicing. This is, in asense, accomplished by providing a support frame having two pairs ofvertical guides, one of the pairs of vertical guides engaging slideablerods which support at their upper ends a bridging bracket member. Thebracket member carries a downwardly.- directed presser foot and a pairof laterally spaced web slitting knives and also a laterally extendingtape severing knife. A heating pad unit has an upper surface confrontingthe bottom surface of the presser foot and is provided with memberswhich slideably engage the other pair of vertical guides. Disposedposteriorly of the presser foot and heater pad unit are a pair ofcooperating tape feed rolls which have a bite directed toward the spacebetween the presser foot and the heater pad.

perspective view of the improved ma- The driving means for the feedrolls, presser foot and heater pad includes a main shaft journalled tothe support frame and having adjustably mounted thereon three separateactuating cams. Also mounted on the support frame are three rocker arms;each of the rocker arms having a cam follower engaging a respective cam.One of the rocker arms is separably linked to the bracket supportedslide rods. Another rocker arm is separably linked to the heater padunit and the third rocker arm is connected. by way of a pawl and ratchetarrangement to the feed rolls. The above structure is such that themachine may be readily disassembled, providing ready access to thevarious components and permitting the replacement or servicing thereof.

Among the important structural characteristics of the improved machineis the provision of aligned grooves in the feed rolls and fingersregistering with each of the grooves and extending across the bitebetween the rolls. A tape guide member extends longitudinally from thefeed roll bite to a point spaced posteriorly of the heater pad uppersurface, and the tape severing knife traverses a path between theleading edge of the tape guide member and the trailing edge of theheater upper surface and spaced therefrom so as to effect a severing ofthe tab bridging the gap between these edges.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 2through 17, and 19 thereof, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the improvedtear tab applying and web slitting machine which is associated with aconventional cigar wrapping machine *12 upon which the tear tab applyingmechanism is mounted. Associated with the wrapping machine 12 is awrapping web feed mechanism of well known construction, whichperiodically draws a predetermined length of Wrapper web W from asuitably mounted roll 14 thereof, the Web W travelling about a pair ofvertically and laterally spaced idler rollers 16, 16 across theoperating area of the tear tab applying mechanism 10 in the mannerhereinafter set forth.

The tear tab applying mechanism 10 'is mounted on the wrapping machine12 by means of a pair of laterally spaced, forwardly projecting arms'18, 18 vaifixed by means of screws to the wrapping machine 12 andhaving longitudinal slots 20 formed adjacent their leading ends. a crossbar 22 rests atop arms 18 and is provided with bolts 24 at the endsthereof which engage slots 20 and permit the longitudinal adjustment ofcross bar 22. A longitudinally extending slot 26 is formed in cross bar22.

Carried on cross bar 22 and on the frame of the wrapping machine 12 is amounting or support frame 28, which includes a pair of laterally spaced,longitudinally extending side walls 30, the under face of the trailingends of which rest on the frame of wrapping machine 12 and theunderfaces of the leading ends of which rest on cross bar 22. Atransverse vertically extending front cross member 32 extends betweenand is secured to the confronting faces of the side walls 36 and isprovided with a bottom rectangular ridge 29 (see FIGURE XlX) whichregisters with slot 26. Support frame 28 is adjustably secured inposition by a bolt 34 passing through a vertical bore formed in crossmember 32 and through slot 26, and is secured in position by means of anut 36 engaging the lower threaded end of the bolt 34. Also locatedbetween the frame walls 30 is an intermediate narrow cross wall 39 (seeFIGURE XIX).

A support plate 38 is secured in a suitable manner to and extendsbetween the upper faces of side walls 30, extending rearwardly from theleading ends thereof to about their rnidpoints and having an opening 40formed therein providing access to bolt 34. Formed in the trailing edgeof the plate 38 is a medially located rectangular recess 42 (see FIGUREbordered by a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly directed fingers 44,the outer edges of which are delineated by longitudinal slots 46reaching the transverse extension of the base line of recess 42. Thefree ends of fingers 44 are shouldered above the level of the plate 38,substantially parallel thereto, their inner ends being downwardlyinclined and joining the plate 33, as seen in FIGURE 12a. Parallellongitudinal slots 48 are formed in fingers 44 and in plate 38 adjacentto slots 46, the slots 48 and 46 accommodating the web slitting knives,as will be hereinafter set forth.

Covering the rear upper section of mounting frame 28 is a plate 5i)extending to a point rearwardly of the trailing edge of the plate 38,and having component clearing recesses formed in its leading edge. Aswitch and indicat-or light-carrying plate 52 covers the trailingdownwardly inclined end of the frame 28. A bridge plate member '54located between the plates 38 and 50 is mounted on frame walls 30. Asseen in FIGURE 8, bridge plate 54 is provided with a rearwardly directedtransversely extending tongue section 56 having an upper face coplanarwith the upper faces of bridge plate 54 and plate 38, and with arearwardly upwardly tapered underface. Projecting rearwardly andmedially from tongue section 56 is an elongated horizontal finger 58lying in a vertical plane and having an upper edge coplanar with theplate 54 and terminating in a downwardly tapered trailing edge.

Mounted on bridge plate 54 is a bracket 60 having a medially,longitudinally extending horizontally lying groove 63 formed in itsunderface and defining a tab tape guide. A medially located, rearwardlyprojecting finger 65, vertically coplanar with the finger 58 projectsrearwardly from bracket 60, the free end of finger 65 being connected bya cotter pin to a block 66 mounted on the leading section of cover plate50. Block 66 has a tear tape guide groove 67 formed in its underface inalignment with groove 63 in block 60. The confronting edges of block 66and bracket 60 have upper tapered surfaces. As will be later described,the fingers 58 and 65 and the associated elements serve to guide andstrip the tab tape from the feed rolls thereof. A pair of laterallyspaced forwardly and inwardly directed fingers 59 are mounted on thesides of the bridge plate 54, the leading portions thereof beingdisposed above and parallel to plate 33 and serving to position theadvancing web W.

The principal motivating mechanism of the present device includes a maindrive shaft '70 journaled between and extending beyond the frame walls30 at their rear sections and having a sprocket wheel 7 2 fixed to anouter end thereof. Sprocket wheel 72 is connected by a sprocket chain 73(see FIGURE 20) :to the Wrapping mechanism drive so that the machine 10is driven in synchronism therewith. Mounted on drive shaft 76 andangularly adjustable relative thereto are cams 74, 76 and 78 whichperiodically actuate the tab tape feed mechanism, the cutter and presserfoot mechanism and the heater pad unit respectively (see FIGURES 5, 6,l0 and 15).

The tear tab tape advancing mechanism, as illustrated in FIGURES 5 to 9of the drawing, includes upper and lower complementary feed rolls 80 and82 respectively, disposed rearwardly of bridge plate 54. The lower roll82 is preferably formed of steel and is affixed to a shaft 84 journalledbetween the frame plates 30 adjacent their upper edges (FIGURE 7).Formed in the surface of the roll 82 is a peripheral groove 86 whichregisters with the stripping finger 58, the upper edge of which isimmediately below the upper peripheral surface of roll 82. Also affixedto the shaft 84 on opposite sides of roll 82 are a spur gear 88 and aratchet wheel 90. A rocker arm 92 is swingably mounted on shaft 84adjacent ratchet wheel and carries on its free end an advancing pawl 94which is spring urged into engagement with ratchet wheel 90. Alsoengaging the ratchet wheel 90 is a re taining pawl 96 which is mountedon the frame wall 30 by means of a bolt axle 98 and is urged toward theratchet wheel 90 by an axle-carried spring 106, as illustrated inFIGURES 6 and 7.

Rocker arm 92 is connected by a link 102 to the free end of a leg 104 ofa bell crank 106, the knuckle of which is rotatably engaged by a stubaxle 168 projecting inwardly from and preferably mounted on one of theframe Walls 30. The other leg 110 of bell crank 156 carries a camfollower 112 at its free end which rides on the surface of cam 74.Urging cam follower 112 toward engagement with cam 74 is a helicaltension spring 114 connected between leg 104 of bell crank 106 and afinger 116 depending from the rear of the frame 28, thereby to urge bellcrank 106 in a clockwise direction about axle 1108 as viewed in FIGURE6. In order to adjust the throw of bell crank 106 and hence to regulatethe circumferential advance of feed roll 82, there is provided a plate118 screw-fastened to the underface of frame wall 30 and carrying aninclined tapped tubular member 120. An elongated screw bolt 122 engagesthe tapped member 120 and carries a nut 123 whereby to lock screw 122 inany desired position. The upper end of screw 122 extends in the path ofarm 164 of hell crank 106, and by adjustment of screw 122 the limit ofthe clockwise movement of the crank 106 and hence its throw and theperiodic advance of the feed roll 82 may be adjusted as desired; seealso FIGURE 19.

Upper roll 80 includes a rigid core member 126 aifixed to the inner freeend of a cantilevered shaft 128 and a pair of laterally spaced resilientcollars 130 mounted on the core member 126 and separated by an annularperipheral groove 132 aligned with groove 86 in lower roll 82 andregistering with stripping finger 65. As seen in FIGURE 9, finger 65 isso positioned within groove 132 and its lower edge does not extendbeyond the periphery of the collars 136. Shaft 128 is journalled betweenand extends laterally beyond the forwardly directed arms 134 of a yokemember 136 having a rearwardly projecting arm 138. Yoke member 136 isrockably mounted on an axle 141) engaging a transverse opening in arm138, and projecting inwardly from an upwardly directed standard 142secured to a frame wall 30.

A gear 144 is afiixed to shaft 128 between yoke arms 134 and mates withlower gear 88 on shaft 84. A knob 146 is afiixed to the outer free endof shaft 128.

A helical tension spring 148 has its upper end attached to a pin 15%projecting laterally from the yoke end of the arm 138 and its lower endsuitably fastened to frame wall 30 thereby to urge yoke arms 134 andshaft 128 downwardly, gear 144 into mesh with gear 88, and the tear tabfeed rolls 89 and 82 into contacting rolling engagement. In order tolock yoke member 136 releasably in raised position, wherein rolls 80 and82 and gears 144 and 88 are out of engagement, the upper face of thesection of arm 138 rearward of axle 41 has an angular notch or recess15!) formed therein. Swingably mounted on the inner face of standard 142above axle 146 is a rearwardly downwardly directed latching element 152which releasably registers with recess 150 when the yoke member is inraised position. A rearwardly directed finger piece 154 is carried byyoke member 136, and a laterally projecting finger piece 156 is carriedby latching element 152 to facilitate manipulation and unlatching of theyoke member assembly.

Standard 142 terminates in an upwardly rearwardly directed arm 158 whichbears at its free end a laterally extending spindle 16% on which isrotatably mounted a spool 163 of tear ta'b tape T. Between spool 163 andfeed rolls 80, 82 are a suitably mounted tape idler guide roll 165, anda guide channel 167 mounted on cover plate 50.

The heater pad assembly comprises a heater pad unit 170 mounted on aslide block 172. Block 172 is saddle shaped and includes a laterallyextending vertical front 174 and a pair of laterally spaced parallelvertical side walls 176, each provided with a pair of vertically spacedrearwardly directed lugs 178 having formed therein boltaccommodating,countersunk transverse bores. Vertical grooves 180 of rectangulartransverse cross-section are formed in the inner faces of walls 176, andslidably engage vertical tracks 182 located on the inner faces of framewalls 36, see FIGURE 19. A pair of ears 134 project rearwardly fromfront wall 174, on the upper portion thereof, and adjacent side walls176. A pin 186 is supported by and between each of ears 1 84 andadjacent side wall 176, registering with apertures formed therein.Depending from each of the pins 186 is a link 18$ terminating in a loweryoke portion 190.

Heat pad unit 17%? comprises a body member 192 including a rear uppersection 194, an intermediate control section 196 and a front lowerjunction box 198, sections 194 and 196 and junction box 198 beingintegrally formed of any suitable, highly heat conducting metal such asaluminum or the like. Heat pad sections 194 and 196 are compositely ofrectangular transverse crosssection, the top surface of the rear section194 extending above that of intermediate section 196, beingsubstantially flat and rectangular in outline, and defining a heatedpressure plate 266. The intermediate pad section 196 extends belowsection 194 and is provided with a laterally extending, rectangularlower front wall 202 which forms a wall of junction box 198. Projectingforwardly from the edge of wall 262 are the peripheral walls 294 whichcarry a readily removable lid 2G6 permitting access to and closing ofjunction box 198. Communication with the interior of junction box 198 isalforded by way of an opening formed in its base 262, and by way of anelbow 268 extending through the box wall 264.

Formed in body member sections 194 and 196 are deep cylindrical wells210 and 212 respectively, which are open at the bottom and extendsubstantially to the top thereof, leaving relatively thin upper and sidewalls. A cartridge type, cylindrical electrical heating unit is snuglynested in well 216 contacting the faces thereof and a switch typethermostat cartridge 216 of cylindrical shape nests snugly in well 212."thermostat 216 is provided with a temperature response adjusting screw218, and is of the type which is electrically open above the presettemperature and closed below said temperature. A terminal strip 220 islocated within junction box 198 and secured to base 202 thereof. Theheating cartridge 214, thermostatic switch 216, and the switch andindicator light carried on the cover plate 52 are connected by way ofthe terminal strip 220 in the well known manner to a source of current.As is conventional, the heating cartridge 214, thermostatic switch 216and the power switch are connected in series with the source of current.It should be noted that the external surfaces of the heating pad unit192 not requiring access are covered by a layer of heat insulatingmaterial 222 to reduce to a minimum heat dissipation and heat transferfrom unit 170 to the remaining mechanism.

Heat pad sections 194 and 196 are disposed between slide block walls176, and the junction box is located below the slide block front wall174 and extends forwardly thereof. Projecting laterally from the sidewalls of the pad rear section 194 and in alignment with the slide blocklugs 178 are stand-off bosses 224. Bosses 224 are formed integrally withthe pad body member 192 and have longitudinally tapped bores alignedwith the openings in lugs 173. Connecting screws 226 engage the tappedbores in bosses 224 and register with the lug openings, the screw headsnesting in the countersunk portions of the lug openings. Engaging screws226 and disposed betweenthe confronting faces of the bosses and lugs areheat insulating washers 226.

The mechanism for motivating the heating pad assembly, illustrated inFIGURES l7 and 19, comprises ;a rocker lever 230, including an elongatedcylindrical knuckle or hub 232 mounted on a shaft 234 journal-ledbetween the frame walls 30, in openings 235, at the lower portionsthereof rearwardly of tracks 182. Hub 232 is locked on shaft 234 bymeans of set screw 236 registering with a tapped opening in hub 232,engaging shaft 234. Projecting forwardly from adjacent the ends of hub232 are a pair of laterally spaced, parallel arms 233, the ends 231 ofwhich extend to and between the legs of the respective yokes 1%,connected thereto by pins 24% which register with aligned openingsformed in yokes 1% and arms 238. Pins 24% are releasably retained bymeans of set screws 241 registering with tapped radial bores communicating with the end openings in arms 238.

An arm 242 is directed rearwardly from one end of hub 232 and terminatesin a split collar 244, provided with a pair of separated, confrontinglegs 246 and 243. An eccentric bushing 250 provided with an adjustingarm registers with collar 244 and carries an inwardly directed axle 252on which is rotatably mounted a cam follower 254. Split collar 244 istightened about bushing 250 by means of a screw 256 which registers withan opening in lower collar leg 248 and engages an aligned tapped bore inupper leg 246. A rearwardly directed finger piece 257 is secured to theunderface of lower collar leg 243 also by means of screw 256. A helicaltension spring 258 has its lower end connected to the car 257 by meansof a cotter pin and its upper end connected to a pin 26% mounted onframe wall 30, whereby to urge lever 23% clockwise as viewed in FIGURE15 and follower 254- into rolling engagement with the cam 78. Byadjustment of the eccentric bushing 258', the path of travel of theheating pad unit 1170 along tracks or guides 132 may be verticallyadjusted.

In FIGURE 18 of the drawing, there is illustrated an alternativeconstruction of the rocking lever, differing from rocking lever 230 onlyin the form of the hub and the forwardly directed arms, and which alsomay be advantageously employed. The hub in the latter constructionincludes a pair of end sections 263 and an intermediate section 265. Theconfronting faces of the end sections 263 and intermediate section 265are respectively provided with separably mating radial rectangulargrooves 266 and ridges 267 to interlock the hub sections againstrelative rotation. Projecting forwardly from each of the hub endsections 263 is an arm 263 having a longitudinal groove 270 formed inits outer face and extending to the end thereof. Arm extensions 272 havetheir trailing ends nesting in grooves 270 and are removably securedtherein by means of screws 274 passing through openings in theextensions 272 engaging tapped bores in arms 268. The leading ends ofthe extensions 272 are provided with apertures which engage the pins 240in the manner of the lever arms 238. The structure of the abovedescribed lever further facilitates the disassembly of the presentmechanism.

The mechanism, supporting and motivating the tab tape severing and webslitting knives and the upper presser foot, includes a pair oflaterally'spaced vertical bars 280 of rectangular cross-section slidablyregistering with correspondingly shaped vertical bores formed in ridges282 disposed on the outer faces of frame walls 3%. Vertically extendinggrooves 284 are formed in the upper inner faces of bars 280 and engagethe ends of a bridge memher 286. Adjustably securing bridge member 286to bars 280 are screws 288 passing through slots formed in the bars 280,engaging tapped bores formed in the bridge member 286, as illustrated inFIGURE i l.

A forwardly directed bracket 2% is medially located on the top of bridge286, and it includes a vertical sleeve 292 which slidably registers withthe lower section 294 of a vertical bushing 296. The upper section 298of bushing 296 is of greater outer diameter than the lower section 294,as seen in FIGURE 11, and is separated therefrom by a peripheralshoulder which is adapted to rest atop the upper face of sleeve 292thereby-to limit the downward movement of bushing 296. A collar 300 isafiixed to the top of bushing 296 and is provided with a tapped radialbore carrying a set screw 302. An elongated rod 304- is adjustablylocated in the bushing 296,

0 extending above and below bushing 296 and is releasably fixed in apreset position relative thereto by means of set screw 3G2. Attached tothe lower end of rod 304 is a presser foot 306 having a bottom discshaped pressure plate 307 with a flat underface and an upwardly directedcollar 308 which engages rod 304 and is secured thereto by a set screwcarried by the collar 308. Presser foot 306 is in vertical alignmentwith and confronts the upper face of heated pressure plate 260, thetrailing edge of presser foo-t pressure plate 307 being slightly forwardof the trailing edge of the pressure plate 200, as illustrated inFIGURES 12a, 12b and 12c.

The upper end of the rod 394 is threaded as at 312 and is engaged by apair of nuts 314 between which is disposed at laterally extending plate316, of diamond outline, provided with a central aperture whichregisters with the threaded portion 312 of rod 304, which plate isvertic-ally adjustably fixed on the red by means of nuts 314. A pair oflaterally spaced, vertical helical tension springs 318 have their upperends secured to the ends of plate 316 and their lower ends to bolts 320projecting outwardly from sleeve 292, normally to urge the assembly ofthe rod 304, bushing 298 and presser foot 306 to their preset lowermostposition wherein the shoulder of bushing 296 abuts the upper face of thesleeve 292.

A laterally extending horizontal rod 322 passes through a similarlyoriented bore formed in bracket 290 rearward of sleeve 292, and isadjustably fixed in position by a set screw 324 carried by bracket 290.Mounted on rod 322 and straddling sleeve 292, are a pair of laterallyspaced depending knife support arms 326- provided at their upper endswith split collars 328 engaging rod 322. Extending radially from splitcollars 328 are normally separated legs 330 which may be urged towardeach other by suitably mounted screws 332 to permit the adjustment andsecuring of arms 326 along rods 322. A web slitting knife 334 dependsfrom each of arms 326 and is separably secured to the inner face thereofby a screw 336, the bottom sharp edge of the knife 334 beingsubstantially horizontal. It should be noted that the arms 326 are soadjusted that knives 334 straddle presscr foot 336 and are alignedeither with selected slots 48 or 46 formed in plate 38.

A downwardly directed tab tape severing knife 340 lying in a transversevertical plane and having a bottom severing edge has its upper borderseparably clamped between a pair of front and rear jaw members 342 and344 respectively. The rear jaw member 344 is fastened to the bridgemember 286 and is vertically adjustable thereon by means of a screw 346passing through a medially located vertical slot 348 in bridge member286 and engaging a tapped bore in the rear jaw 344. The confrontingfaces of jaws 342 and 344 have mating horizontal grooves and ridgesformed therein and are urged into clamped position by means of a pair ofscrews registering with laterally spaced openings in the front jaw 344and engaging aligned tapped bores in the rear jaw 342. The tab tapesevering knife 349 extends in a vertical plane and traverses a verticalpath lying substantially midway between the leading edge of the bridgeplate 54 and the trailing edge of heated pressure plate 200.

A longitudinally extending rocker arm 350 is located at the bottom offrame 28 and includes a base plate 352 carrying at its rear end alaterally extending hub 354 :swingably engaging an axle 356 suitablyseparably supported between the lower rear corners of frame walls 30.Extending along the sides of base plate 352 are upwardly directedflanges 358 which are provided with laterally aligned, aperture ears360. A cam follower 363 is supported between the ears 366 by an axle 364and is normally in registry with cam 76. Mounted at the forward end ofbase plate 352 is a laterally extending sleeve 366 which engages a rod368 projecting beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve 366. A pair oflinks 378 are mounted on the ends of the rod 368 and are removablymaintained 9 thereon by split rings 372 and are separably pin connectedto the lower ends of corresponding slide bars 280 by means of threadedbolt members 374.

A rectangular aperture 37 6 is located in the rocker arm base plate 352adjacent its leading end, and a pair of angular recesses 378 are formedin the underface of plate 352 and extend laterally from aperture 376.Registering with recesses 378 are the ends of a pin 380 which extendacross the bottom of aperture 376 and engage the lower hooked end 382 ofa helical tension spring 384. The upper end of the spring 384 engages athreaded bolt 386 carried by the intermediate wall 39. Spring 3'84 urgesthe forward end of the rocker arm 350 upwardly to maintain follower 363in engagement with the cam 76, and to urge the knife and presser footassembly toward its upper position, as illustrated in FIGURES and 11.

Considering now the operation of the improved tear tab applying machine,it is first loaded and laced up by mounting a roll 163 of tear tab tapeT on the spindle 160. The upper feed roll 80 is raised by depressing thefinger piece 154 until the latching elements 152 falls into engagementwith the arm notch 150 to lock the feed roll 80 in raised position,FIGURE 6. The free end of the tape T is drawn from roll 163 and passedabout idler 165, through guide 167 and guide grooves 67 and 63, over thelower feed roll 82 and then disposed between fingers 58 and 65-. Latchelement 152 is then swung upwardly out of engagement with notch 150,permitting upper feed roll 80 to drop into engagement with the lowerfeed roll 82 and atop the tape T. The wrapping web W is guided acrossthe plate 38, the trailing longitudinal border thereof passing under theguide fingers 59 and over the plate fingers 44. The packaging machine,for example a cigar wraping machine, is started to simultaneouslymotivate the tear tab applying mechanism as aforesaid.

The cycle of the tab applying mechanism starts with the advance of apredetermined length of tape T with its leading portion disposed belowthe trailing border of the web W raised by the fingers 44, FIGURE 2. Cam74 rocks bell crank 106 to reciprocate link 102 which, on its upwardstroke, rot-ates bottom feed roll 82 one increment by way of pawl andratchet 94 and 96. The upper feed roll is similarly advanced by way ofmeshing gears 88 and 144, FIGURES 6 and 7. Upon the return of the bellcrank, link and pawl, under the influence of spring 114, the latchingpawl 96 prevents retrogressio-n of ratchet wheel 9b. The increment ofadvance of draw-off feed rolls 80 and 82 and of the tape T may be variedby adjusting the stroke of the bell crank 106 by way of the screw 122 aspreviously described.

As tape T passes between the feed rolls, it is aligned with the feedroll grooves 86 and 132 and prevented from adhering to the surface ofthe feed rolls by being continuously stripped therefrom bygroove-registering fingers SS and 65, FIGURES 8 and 9.

Following the advance of tape T (FIGURES =12a to 13), and while the webW is stationary, heat pad unit 170 is raised until the upper heatedsurface 200 thereof is substantially coplanar with the upper faces offingers 44. The elevation of unit 70 is effected by way of the cam 78and the associated follower, rocker arm and linkage mechanism, FIGURE15. The severing and slitting knives and pressure foot assembly aredepressed so that they reach their lower positions subsequent to theheat pad unit reaching its topmost position. Presser foot 306 reachespressure plate 200 first, to press and heat the coinciding overlappedportions of tape T and web W. As the knife and pressure foot assembly isfurther depressed, the pressure exerted by presser foot 306 upon thetape, web and heated surface 2% is increased by reason of the stress ofsprings 318 consequent to the relative raising of the rod 304 to effectthe heat sealing of tape T to web W.

The knives 334 are carried into registry with aligned slots 46 or 48, asdesired, to form slits in web W on opposite sides of the attached tapeT. Similarly, the knife 340 is carried through that portion of the tapeT which bridges the gap between the leading edge of the plate 54 and thetrailing edge of the heated surface 200 to sever the tape T and from thetab. It is important to note that knife 348, during its travel and tapesevering action, is disposed between and substantially intermediate theleading edge of the surface 200 and does not cont-act these members; thetape T, during its severing, being firmly held by rolls 8i) and '82 andthe engaging presser foot and heated pressure surface. The heater padunit and the knife and presser foot assembly are then lowered and raisedrespectively, and the packaging machine thereafter takes up apredetermined length of the web containing the attached tear tab and thestarting slits. The above cycle is then periodically repeated. In FIGURE1 there is illustrated a cigar which has been enclosed in a wrappingproduced by the present mechanism, the opening of the wrapper havingbeen facilitated by the tab. A detailed explanation of the packagedcigar is set forth in US. Patent No. 2,337,741, granted December 28,1943.

The timing of the various operations may be regulated by angulariyadjusting the earns 74, 76 and 78 on shaft 70. The pressure exerted bythe presser foot 306- and the height reached by the heated surface 200may be regulated respectively by adjusting the position of plate 316 onthe rod 304 and the position of the eccentric bush-ing 250. Furthermore,the relative position of the severing knife 34%) may be independentlyvertically adjusted by moving the supporting clamp on the bridge 286. Byreason of the absence of any obstructions or impediments in the face ofthe plate 38 forward of slide bars 280, the width of the wrapping web Wwhich may be employed is practically limitless, as seen in FIGURES 4aand 4b. Moreover, the improved mechanism may be employed in anyconvenient position, for example, vertically, as illustrated in FIGURE20 of the drawings.

In addition to the great flexibility, versatility and adjustability ofthe improved tear tab applying and web slitting mechanism hereindisclosed, it is characterized by case of disassembly and assembly,thereby facilitating its servicing, repair and replacement of parts. Byunhooking the spring 384 from the pin 380 and removing the screws 374from the links 370 and the bars 280, the front end of the rocker arm isfreed and may be dropped to the position illustrated in FIGURE 19, andthe slide bars 280 and the supported presser foot and knife assemblyslid upwardly and separated from the mounting frame 28, if desired.Rocking lever 230 can then be detached simply by releasing spring 258from tongue 256, loosening set screws 239 and removing pins 240 whichcouple arms 238 and links 188, loosening set screw 236 and removingshaft 234. The heat pad unit assembly may then be slid downwardly out ofengagement with the frame 28 and the heat pad unit separated therefromby loosening of screws 226. The unit 170 may be readily replaced bydetaching the respective wire leads from the terminal strip 220,connecting the leads from another unit 170 thereto and mounting the newunit on the carriage 172. The various elements and components of themechanism are completely accessible for replacement and repair and thereassembly thereof may be readily and simply achieved. Moreover, itshould be noted that the above disassembly is not necessary in adjustingor replacing the severing and slit ting knives, the presser foot, inadjusting the thermostat, etc.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations,additions and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe appended claim.

1 claim:

An improved tear tab applying mechanism of the character described foruse with a wrapping machine, comprising a support frame including a pairof laterally 11 spaced parallel walls and having parallel confrontingvertical tracks located in the inner faces thereof; a heating pad unitdisposed between said walls and slidable along said tracks and separablefrom said support frame through the bottom thereof and having a bodymember and a pair of guide members engaging said tracks and mounted onand separated from said body member by standoif elements; a drive shaftjournalled between said walls; an actuating cam mounted on and rotatablewith said drive shaft; a. rocking member rotatably and separablysupported between said frame walls and including a pair of lat- 12erally spaced arms engaging opposite sides of said pad unit; and a camfollower carried by said rocking member and engaging said actuating cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTSRoberts Feb. 12, 1935 2,757,584 Clemente Aug. 7, 1956 2,758,517Brightwell Aug. 14, 1956 2,768,561 Clemente et a1 Oct. 30, 1956

